Sex isn’t the only activity in which the concept of “safer” has caught on.

“Safer sports” represents a new era of fitness for students of the 90s who care about preventing injuries while having fun, competing, losing weight and engaging in athletics.

Seventy percent of sports injuries occur to people under 24, placing students at higher risk than others for sustaining injuries.

There is evidence suggesting that while efforts to make sports safer—better equipment, training, coaching, officiating—have succeeded in reducing injuries; unorganized sports such as pickup softball and basketball, sandlot football and volleyball, skateboarding and street hockey produce twice as many injuries as organized sports.

The most common athletic injuries among NIU students are jammed fingers, sprained ankles and dislocated joints. Basketball, volleyball and softball are the most common sports in which students are injured.

Most people are more familiar with treating an injury than preventing one. While lack of preparation increases risk of injury, being in good condition is one of the best ways to prevent injury.

Work at maintaining and improving your cardiovascular system, increasing your flexibility, building muscular endurance and developing muscular strength.

Warming up muscles is essential to injury prevention. Therefore, even if it’s a backyard game, do about 10 minutes of activity that mimics the sport.

Warmed-up muscles are soft, pliable, and more resistant to injury. Stretch the muscles used most in your chosen sport. Never stretch a cold muscle.

The best defense against ankle injuries, common to many of the activities mentioned, is to build up muscles in the lower leg. Strengthening the calf muscles can prevent Achilles tendon injuries.

While prevention of finger injuries is less exact, developing a high level of muscle strength and conditioning can help prevent these injuries. Tape or padding can protect a finger that was previously injured.

Adequate overall strength and muscle tone can prevent knee and shoulder dislocations. Protective equipment such as knee and shoulder pads are recommended for participation in contact sports.

These pointers are intended to make sports activities safer and to reduce “down” time from injury.

There is no sport or activity that is free from risk. However, adequate conditioning, preparation, equipment, coaching and officiating can make the difference between “safer sports” and injury.

For evaluation and treatment of sports-related injuries as well as information about preventive and rehabilative aspects of injury, contact the Health Service’s Sports Medicine Clinic or Health Enhancement Services.